Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Aiel's First Errand
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I timidly stepped into the robe shop.
The bell jingled cheerily as the shopkeeper emerged from behind the counter with a bright smile on her face.
But when she spotted me, her expression fell with disappointment.
I clutched Bamper's oversized robe tightly around me, leaving only the bare minimum of my face exposed, and stole glances at the shopkeeper.
"...Are you here alone? Where are your parents?"
To ease her concerns, I quickly shook my coin pouch.
"I've got payment! Four adult robes and one child-sized, please!"
The shopkeeper's eyes went wide. I flashed her the most natural smile I could muster, desperately hoping it looked convincing.
All of this was because of that damn overzealous education fever.
"Do you really need to run errands just because you're a lady? No, you need some social experience. Can you walk without your White Flame wheelchair? You've seen how well she walks at home...?"
'That's not the point right now. She's never bought anything before.' 'Jayhan, say something.' '...Then now's the time.'
After that back-and-forth, the mood suddenly shifted to "Cheering on Aiel's first errand."
Swept up in the atmosphere, I crossed the street and ended up right in front of the shop, going with the flow.
But as I placed my hand on the door handle, a sense of wrongness washed over me.
"Don't worry. It'll record everything just fine."
"No need to be scared! If anything happens, I'll come running. You saw how fast I am, right?"
"...Pardon? Oh... yes...."
But when I turned around and saw Yan holding a recording device like some overenthusiastic parent filming a home video, and Calipan pumping his fist in encouragement, there was no turning back.
A simple errand would have been fine, but calling it my *first* errand made my shoulders feel unbearably heavy.
The pressure to succeed perfectly made every one of my movements awkward.
Perhaps it showed on my face, because the hurdle I had to overcome eyed me skeptically.
"What if you buy the wrong thing and your parents want a refund later?"
"That won't happen. My parents... my parents... hate refunds the most!"
At my stiff, wooden response, the shopkeeper smiled faintly.
"That's a reliable answer. Off you go, little one."
No way! I'd half-expected it, but this was a real crisis of failure!
It felt just like botching a dish on the day you had guests over. Then, the guests would only remember your failed cooking for the rest of their lives...!
"Wait, just a moment!"
"No means no. I don't even know where a kid like you got that money from."
"I have guardians!"
I pointed across the street to the alley where Mayches's friends were watching me with keen interest.
Seeing their utterly amused expressions made my blood boil a little.
Who were they to play strict mentors, shoving me into this trial pit like they were Mencius's mother...?
Anyway, when I ad-libbed by pointing them out, they looked utterly baffled.
Calipan, who must have been uselessly focusing his hearing from over there, seemed to relay my words to them.
"Those people are my guardians."
"......"
The shopkeeper's arms, crossed over her chest, loosened slightly.
With a dazed, entranced look, she stared through the display window at the minuscule figure of Jayhan in the distant alley—tiny as a mini statue from that far away.
Jayhan responded in kind, tilting his head ever so slightly toward the shopkeeper.
*Ding-ding.*
It was as if the bell in her ears was ringing loud enough to reach me.
Before she could realize the identity of the world's greatest beauty, I frantically waved my arm in front of her eyes.
"Four adult robes and one child-sized, please!"
I was practically a human macro.
Her gaze finally shifted back to me, with some difficulty, as I repeated the same line.
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn't heard the rumors about the crown prince of the Denpider Empire appearing while she was minding the shop. Her cheeks slightly flushed as she glanced once more at the five friends outside.
"Good heavens. What in the world makes them all so handsome? They're your guardians?"
"Yes! Four adult robes and one child-sized..."
"Hehe, what's the rush? Alright, alright. We have various kinds—come inside and pick some out."
"...No? They're all super shy. Just give me anything in neutral colors."
It looked like Calipan had translated for me.
The friends outside suddenly burst into deflated laughter, covering their faces with their hands or hanging their heads.
Embarrassingly, they were perfectly in sync with my words, putting on an impromptu performance of extreme shyness.
The side effect? They now looked like random passersby.
Hardships came in all flavors.
Suspicion immediately flickered in the shopkeeper's discerning eyes.
"Hmm, are they really your guardians? You're not just making it up? ...What's your relationship to them?"
"Br... "
I never knew the title "my older brothers' friends" could sound so vague and suspicious until this moment.
"...I knew it. Out you go. If I sell to a child and there's trouble, who's responsible—"
I decided to squeeze my eyes shut just this once.
"Br... "
"Br... ?"
"They are my brothers."
My burning ambition to succeed at this errand shocked even Calipan; he immediately dropped the shy act.
I could see Yan shaking Calipan's shoulder, demanding to know what was going on as Calipan peered blankly into the shop.
Calipan's lips moved.
'O—'
I whipped my head away.
Anyway, with their attention now fixed on the shop, the shopkeeper's suspicions seemed completely dispelled.
Her expression softened into doting affection, like an adult taking interest in someone else's cute kids, and she clapped her hands.
"Oh my, six brothers?"
"Yes... about that many siblings...."
It felt oddly guilty that the only real sibling, Mayches, was missing from the lineup.
But insisting we had one more and making it seven brothers would have been weird too....
Awkwardly lifting the corners of my mouth, I somehow managed to secure four adult robes and one child-sized one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Mayches couldn't hold back and scowled.
"Are they trying to escape life itself...?"
At the end of his gaze dangled a silk thread bracelet on the wrist of a Decarica Kingdom noble.
It was meant as a token of goodwill toward the pilgrimage representative, Count Rudelriz, but it was backfiring spectacularly.
Renepia glanced at Mayches with slightly surprised eyes.
The count had always looked coldly impassive whenever he noticed the bracelets until now, but he'd never voiced such harsh words.
Mayches, too, suddenly felt a chill sour his mood, realizing he'd spoken out of turn without thinking.
He apologized to Renepia, who shared the carriage with him.
"My apologies."
"...Pfft. No need to apologize."
Renepia figured the three-day journey had simply worn down his patience.
She was used to this exhaustion from attending events as a symbol of the Orelot-Roxidran accord, but this was his first time.
"Imitating those you admire is an age-old tradition. I'd like to say there's no need to mind each one... but Count, if it truly bothers you, I could mention it to His Majesty."
Renepia said, folding her hands gloved in pristine white lace atop her knees.
The pilgrims of the Four Seasons Blessing Parade had just completed their tenth march and were entering Decarica's royal castle.
The parade carriages stretched out in a long line, passing through the castle's main gate one by one.
Unlike during the march, they weren't each in their own carriage; instead, friends clustered together in whichever one they pleased, chatting amiably.
"It's fine. It should be sorted out by tonight."
Who would step up, he didn't know.
At Mayches's matter-of-fact words, Renepia subtly gripped her left hand with her right below the table.
"You're always like that."
"Like what, exactly?"
"Always one step ahead."
"...You flatter me."
Renepia let out a faint, imperceptible sigh and released the tension from her hands.
"...Thank you for treating Bandahen. I always feel like I have no way to repay you."
Mayches's ash-gray eyes met Renepia's face.
"Contributing to the imperial family as a citizen of the empire is an honor. No need for such concerns."
"......"
At his cold tone, Renepia smiled bitterly.
The lifesaver of Bandahen.
Why must the one bearing that weight be Count Rudelriz, of all people?